Like Mother, Like Mother

A Novel

By: Susan Rieger

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman

An enthralling novel about three generations of strong-willed women, unknowingly shaped by the secrets buried in their family’s past.

“What a delight! Like Mother, Like Mother is sharp, fun, and witty.”—Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Hello Beautiful

“A sprawling family saga, briskly told with the lightest of touches and an often-surprising sense of humor.”—Rumaan Alam, bestselling author of Leave the World Behind

A VOGUE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Detroit, 1960. Lila Pereira is two years old when her angry, abusive father has her mother committed to an asylum. Lila never sees her mother again. Three decades later, having mustered everything she has—brains, charm, talent, blond hair—Lila rises to the pinnacle of American media as the powerful, brilliant executive editor of The Washington Globe. Lila unapologetically prioritizes her career, leaving the rearing of her daughters to her generous husband, Joe. He doesn’t mind—until he does.

But Grace, their youngest daughter, feels abandoned. She wishes her mother would attend PTA meetings, not White House correspondents’ dinners. As she grows up, she cannot shake her resentment. She wants out from under Lila’s shadow, yet the more she resists, the more Lila seems to shape her life. Grace becomes a successful reporter, even publishing a bestselling book about her mother. In the process of writing it, she realizes how little she knows about her own family. Did Lila’s mother, Grace’s grandmother, die in that asylum? Is refusal to look back the only way to create a future? How can you ever be yourself, Grace wonders, if you don’t know where you came from?

Spanning generations, and populated by complex, unforgettable characters, Like Mother, Like Mother is an exhilarating, portrait of family, marriage, ambition, power, the stories we inherit, and the lies we tell to become the people we believe we’re meant to be.

Critic reviews

“A novel in the spirit of Meg Wolitzer, Jean Hanff Korelitz, and the great Nora Ephron . . . Who says comedy is dead? It’s all here—incredible characters, joyful satire, a wisecracking newswoman, family secrets with a twist of lime.”—Allegra Goodman, bestselling author of Sam

“What a delight! Lila is a magnificent character, and I could not put this book down. Like Mother, Like Mother is sharp, fun, and witty.”—Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Hello Beautiful

“The writing in Like Mother, Like Mother trots easily along, and the last 50 or so pages are almost impossible to put down...One of the best aspects of this novel is that, even though much of it takes place in the fraught world of journalism, it’s actually an escape from today’s headlines. It’s a fun immersion into the lives of a loving, well-meaning, smart, and interesting set of people who readers will want to root for.”—The New York Journal

“The best kind of novel: compelling, warm, funny, and complicated, full of kick-ass women in tangled relationships, spanning generations and coming of age again and again. Susan Rieger tackles my favorite subjects: writing, family, and the conditions of unconditional love.”—Laurie Frankel, bestselling author of Family Family

“Phenomenal . . . Susan Rieger’s wise, exhilaratingly moving tale gets to the beating heart of nature versus nurture and the stories we are told versus the stories we need to hear.”—Caroline Leavitt, bestselling author of Days of Wonder

“Susan Rieger gives us perfectly messy, complex, witty characters searching for answers and connection. Long after you finish it, this book will make you think about the stories that shape us, the stories we search for, and what it means to pass them from one generation to the next.”—Jennifer Close, bestselling author of Marrying the Ketchups

“With pungent wit and the fizz of a Tracy-Hepburn comedy, Susan Rieger writes about long-held family secrets and mothers good and bad with warmth and elegance.”—Joseph Finder, bestselling author of The Oligarch’s Daughter

“A novel of mothers and daughters, but, even more pressingly, of what it means to investigate past and present and tell stories about what we find . . . It is a direct, unsentimental love letter to journalism, and to the wise, weird women who are so often its beating heart.”—Rebecca Traister, bestselling author of Good and Mad

“Like Mother, Like Mother is a rare thing: a sprawling family saga, briskly told. Susan Rieger covers so much with the lightest of touches and a welcome and often-surprising sense of humor.”—Rumaan Alam, bestselling author of Leave the World Behind

Dysfunction Runs Deep

this is a really great book for people who wonder why they do certain things. It is great about making generational connections for all those who are finding their long lost siblings, cousins and parents. There is so much more here, especially about the relationship between mothers and daughters, and what they owe each other.

Keeps you listening

Human story! Shows are even apart, they act the same. Very interesting following this family’s history.

A very good book minus the superfluous political commentary.

This is one of the better books I have read. The storyline was intriguing. Each individual had a story to tell and each one was captivating. My only criticism is that for some reason the author felt the need to wrap in political commentary. The author hates Republicans, we get it. Totally unnecessary to add this into an otherwise amazing story.

compelling story

wow...glad I stumbled on this story! humans being human...poor life choices and triumphs. recommend 100%

Three generational trauma

Loved the reader’s voice especially with so many characters. Author hits on so much when it comes to generational trauma. At times a bit choppy but overall a really good read.